Samuel J Heller Foundation
Samuel J Heller Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Clarita, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $21K.
Samuel J Heller Foundation at a glance
In short: Samuel J Heller Foundation gave $21K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,393
- +84.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,566
- +115.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,997
- Primary geography
- California (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Samuel J Heller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Temple Ramat Zion ($9K). Together the top 6 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Samuel J Heller Foundation gives
- Giving grew 185% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2020) to $21K (2023). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Temple Ramat Zion Northridge, CA | General support | $9,100 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | General support | $4,000 |
| Shriners Hospital Pasadena, CA | General support | $4,000 |
| Tunnel To Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General support | $3,993 |
| Vasques Students Charity Burbank, CA | General support | $200 |
| Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs, CA | General support | $100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $19,021 | $21,532 | $21,393 | 6 | $21,393 | $74 |
| 2024 | $2,511 | $13,785 | $11,729 | $11,594 | 7 | $11,729 | $91 |
| 2023 | $455 | $9,440 | $21,470 | $21,400 | 8 | $21,470 | $360 |
| 2022 | $12,485 | $20,355 | $7,960 | $7,500 | 3 | $7,960 | $247 |
| 2021 | $90 | $4,580 | $4,575 | $4,000 | 1 | $4,575 | $34 |
| 2020 | $85 | $2,572 | $3,065 | $2,600 | 1 | — | $3 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel J Heller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $74 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Samuel J Heller Foundation is led by Samuel J. Heller, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Samuel J. Heller
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marlies Petersen
Secretarytreasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretarytreasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Samuel J Heller Foundation
How much does Samuel J Heller Foundation give each year?
Samuel J Heller Foundation gave $21K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $12K across 7 grants.
What is Samuel J Heller Foundation's typical grant size?
Samuel J Heller Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,997, and its average grant was $3,566, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Samuel J Heller Foundation give grants?
Samuel J Heller Foundation gives mostly in California: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (19%) and New York (19%).
Does Samuel J Heller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Samuel J Heller Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Samuel J Heller Foundation's largest grantees?
Samuel J Heller Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Temple Ramat Zion ($9,100), St Jude Children's Research Hospital ($4,000) and Shriners Hospital ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How much is Samuel J Heller Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Samuel J Heller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $74 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Samuel J Heller Foundation's EIN?
Samuel J Heller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2553479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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